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Phrase




We shall learn what a phrase is and how many types of phrase are there in English.

Phrase : A phrase is a group of words which doesn’t contain a finite verb, but does the work of a single part of speech.

Example: Reading novels improves your English.

In the above example, the highlighted words act as noun in the sentence. It contains two words which act as a unit. So, we call such words phrases.


Types of Phrases: There are at least nine important types of phrases in English. They are:


1. Noun Phrase: This phrase acts as a noun in the sentence, and it also contains other associates to modify it.

Examples: 

Kavya bought a blue saree.

A tall woman came to help him.


2. Prepositional Phrase: It contains a preposition and an object of the preposition.

Examples: 

The students are looking at the black-board.

Jyothi has slept on the sofa.


3. Adjective Phrase: It acts like an adjective in the sentence.

Examples: 

The man with the white-hair is my father.

The chairman is the man of honour.


4. Adverb Phrase: It acts like an adverb in the sentence.

Examples: 

The river flows through the town.

Zaheer drove the car at a great speed.


5. Verb Phrase: It acts like a verb in a sentence.

Examples: 

She can lift this box.

The students are playing volleyball.


6. Infinitive Phrase: It contains ‘to infinitive’.

Examples: 

They are trying to get maximum returns.

To achieve success is his final goal.


7. Gerund Phrase: This phrase contains a gerund ( V+ing ) and its associates.

Examples: 

Chewing tobacco will cause cancer.

He enjoys riding bikes.


Practice

Identify what type of phrases are the highlighted units of the following sentences. 

1. Kiran is studying hard to get A+ grade in the public exams

2. My mother gave me a glass full of milk

3. The man whom you met yesterday is my brother. 

4. In spite of studying hard, he got a B grade. 

5. Taking outside food is not healthy. 





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